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Anyone looking for a couple months of grazing for a couple hundred head of yearlings, may want to call Rodger Savory near Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Rodger is a friend of a friend, and apparently has enough pasture for two months and also has winter grazing available. That part of the country was blessed with a bit […] Read more

I shouldn’t always show disrespect for concern over global warming, but to be honest it is hard to pay it much heed, just by looking out the window. It wasn’t too long ago – early July – they were scrapping frost off the windshields near Camrose, Alberta – and that was after a cool dry […] Read more

It was interesting to note last week that as beef producers were gathered at a conference in Calgary to hear a message that the recession is coming to an end and there is great long term opportunity for the agriculture industry, hog producers were holding a rally a few blocks away to say if they […] Read more

Prairie moisture 30 day.pdfAs if farmers and ranchers didn’t know it by looking out the window, this prairie soil moisture map from Agriculture Canada tells a pretty graphic story about how dry it is and where, across Western Canada. This map is as of June 21 so things can change, although I don’t think they […] Read more

The Calgary Stampede made me a great lunch yesterday, so I need to remind readers that the greatest outdoor show on earth is coming up July 3 to 12. While officials promise the event will be bigger and better than ever, I’m just hoping my favorite mini-doughnut stand is in the same location as always […] Read more

Alberta beef producers interested in some advice on how to manage cattle and pastures in light of the cool, dry growing conditions should attend one of the six upcoming information meetings being held around the province. Starting next Tuesday, June 16, evening meetings will be held in the following locations; June 16, Claresholm Community Centre […] Read more

Alberta pork producer Arnold Van Ginkel of Rocky Mountain House had to make the tough decision, in the last few days, to cull the entire 2,500-head herd of hogs in his barns, as the only way to eradicate the H1N1 virus, as well as the perception that meat from the hogs in his operation posed […] Read more

It was great to see Governor General Michaelle Jean eating a piece of seal heart this week. I’m not a big fan of raw heart from any source – stuff it and roast it, and that’s a different story. But I gave her top marks for her support of the Canadian sealing industry. Of course, […] Read more

I know it is a tough spot, but I was pleased to see Alberta hog producer Arnold Van Ginkel go public this week with his side of how the H1N1 virus has shut down his operation at Rocky Mountain House. Even though he and his family have personally done nothing wrong, I think it is […] Read more

I spent part of the past week with some highly influential people in the Canadian beef industry. The first important group was six southeastern B.C. ranchers, and the second group was guys who work for or have some links  to an organization called the Canadian Cattleman’s Association (I had to shower after that session! I’m kidding […] Read more